Pouring spout



March l, 1966 M. M. sTr-:RNAU

POURING SPOUT Filed Sept. 19. 1961 INVENTO'R MARTIN M. STERNAU United States Patent Ofi ice 3,237,835 Patented Mar. l, 1966 3,237,835 POURING SPUT Martin M. Sternau, Flushing, N.Y., assigner of thirtythree and one-third percent to Leo Stanger, Summit, NJ.

Filed Sept. 19, 1951, Ser. No. 139,281 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-7) This invention relates to pouring spouts for containers and particularly to an improved closable pouring spout for containers holding granular products such as foodstuts.

Containers with closable pouring spouts are conventional for dispensing of granular foods such as cereals, salts, and the like. Known pouring spouts include a lip which lies against the box when the spout is closed and behind which a user must insert either his iingernail or a thin utensil so as to draw the spout outward from the face of the container and thus open the spout. This practice of handling the lip with the fingernail or a utensil where the box contains granulated food is unhygenic. The granulated food, when dispensed, slides over the previously handled lip and may pick up foreign matter deposited by the fingernail or utensil.

It is an object of my invention to provide a container having a spout which can be opened Without handling any portion of the surface dispensing the contents of the container, which can nevertheless be simply and inexpensively assembled in the manner of commonly available spouts.

According to a feature of my invention, I fashion from the face of a carton a flap member, and I secure to the ap member the flat central member of a chute or U- shaped channel having wings extending form the central member and into the carton. I then cut a tab from only one of the beforementioned members and adapt it to extend outwardly from the carton. A user may then open or close the spout so formed by means of the tab.

According to another feature of my invention I provide an extending lip on the central member adapted to secure the chute in the closed position.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood from the following description of several pr ferred embodiments of the invention when considered with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. is a partial perspective view of a container with a spout according to my invention;

FIG, 2 is a sectional view of the spout in FIG. l;

FIG. 2a is a sectional View of the spout in FIG. l in closed position;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are partial perspective and sectional views respectively of another spouted container embodying features of my invention; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are perspective views of other containers with spouts embodying features of my invention.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rectangular cardboard box, container or carton integrally and hingedly carries upon a sideface 12 thereof an upwardly and outwardly extending rectangular ap 14. The material to be poured is held in the box 10. The flap 14 is cut, or torn from perforations, along the vertical and upper horizontal boundary lines of a rectangle on the face 12. Weakening of the lower boundary line of the rectangle forms a hinge line 18 about which the flap 14 may be articulated and thereby leave an opening 16 in the box face 12. Secured against the interior face of the ap 14 is the central portion 22 of a chanelor chute-shaped member 2t? integrally possessing sector-like wings 24 and 26 extending through the opening 16 and into the box 1G. The member 20 may be made of exible sheet metal, paper, cardboard or plastic such as polyethylene with suflicient resilience to bias the wings 24, 26 against the vertical edges of opening 16. The invention also contemplates a pair of vertical slits extending upwardly from the vertical edges of the opening 16 and aligned with these edges. The slits receive the circular edges of wings 24, 2S and guide them near their peripheries so as to maintain their angular orientation relative to the central portion 22 as the iiap 14 and member 20 are articulated about the hinge line 18. Extending downwardly and integrally from the central portion 22 and secured against the interior of the face 12 is a rectangular reinforcing strip 28. The channel 20 possesses, at the ends of the wings 24, and 26, stops 30, 32 respectively, and an extension 34 of the central portion 22 which can be bent inwardly and tucked into the container 10 to serve as a locking means for keeping the chute closed. Projecting integrally from the center f of portion 22 with minimum clearance through a narrow slit 36 in t'lap 14 is a tab 318. The later is formed by cutting a tongue-shaped tab in portion 22 and bending the thus-shaped tab away from the plane of the ap. To articulate the spout assembly constituted by liap 14 and the channel-shaped member 20 about hinge line 1S into and out of container 1E), a user grasps the tab 3S and either pulls or pushes according to the desired movement.

When the container is closed the spout assembly projects into the container 1t), the ap 14 is aligned with the face 12, and extension 34 is bent inwardly and is tucked behind side 12. The flap 14 is thus kept ush with the face 12. Tab 38 rests against flap 14. T o open a user now lifts the tab 3S, grasps it and draws out the spout assembly until the stops 3i) and 32 rest against side 12. The box may be manufactured with no ap cut from the side 12. In this case a user tirst cuts along perforations provided for this purpose and forms the iiap. Before opening the spout the projection 34 extends into the container as in FIG. 2a. Drawing the spout outwardly draws out extension 34; that is to say articulating the the spout assembly about hinge line 18 by drawing tab 33 pulls out extension 34. The resilience of the material constituting the channel member 20 allows the extension 34 to move upwardly after drawing the spout out of the container. Movement of the spout assembly back toward the side 12 pushes the tip of extension 34 against the outside of the carton 10 and aligns the extension with the central portion 22 of the member 2G. The user then, by means of tab 2S, draws out the assembly of spout and flap until the stops 30 and 32 abut against side 12. Tilting the container passes the contents down the spout. The chutelike characteristic of the spout is uninterrupted by the gap 36 in portion 22 occasioned by the formation of the tab 33. The flap 14 substantially covers this opening and portion 22 is attached to ap 14 all around the gap or slit 36. The member 20 is secured to the flap 14 by an adhesive, a plurality of rivets, staples, crimps or other known securing means,

The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 is similar to that of FIGS. l and 2. However, in FIGS. 3 and 4, a tab 4d, corresponding in function to tab 38 of FIGS. 1 and 2, bends downwardly from the cardboard flap 14 at the end thereof. The channel member 20 is secured to the interior fa-ce of Hap 14. The flap 14 is weakened along a tab line 39 above which it is not attached to member Ztl, thereby permitting formation of the tab 4G. In production of such an arrangement, the Hap 14 need not actually be cut from the face 12 but may instead be scored for later cutting by the user. As in FIGS. 1 and 2, wings 24, 25 extend through opening 16 into the container 10.

Vifhen the container is scored rather than cut along the ap edges of flap 14, the container can be formed merely by securing the member 20 to the interior of the scoring of ap 14. The container need not be opened prior to the time the user opens the box for the iirst time. The

user then cuts the flap 14 along the scoring with a knife, bends the tab 40 downwardly at line 39 and draws out the spout assembly by way of tab 40. Such structure maintains the sealing integrity of the container and results in fresher contents when opened. At the same time this provides a locking means in tab or extension .34 to keep the spout closed.

In FIG. 5, which shows a structure similar to FIGS. 1 to 4, the channel member 20 straddles the Hap 14 to which it is secured and extends it wings 24 and 26 into the container through the opening 16. Known means such as adhesive secures the interior of central portion 22 on member to the exterior of ap 14 as well as to the side face of container 10. In FIG. 5, a tab 42 cut from the portion 20, but still integral therewith, extends downwardly and outwardly. The chute-like continuity of the spout is maintained by the liap 14 covering the void occasioned by the tab opening 16. A user articulates the spout in and out by grasping the tab 42 between two iingers. Before opening of the container 10, the entire area of the chute on the outside of the side face 12 may be covered by a sticker to seal the container.

Except for the tab 44, FIG. 6 is identical to FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, the tab 44 to be grasped for controlling the spout is cut from the open end of the portion 22; the chute-like characteristic of the spout being maintained by the end of flap 14. Means such as adhesives secure the member 20 to flap 14. According to this embodiment of the invention, the extension 34 at the end of the spout is absent.

Where the box 10 utilizes in its interior a sealed foil or plastic bag, the bag is glued to the flap 14 and weakened to tear near the flap when the spout is opened.

It will be understood that the illustrated embodiments of my invention are to be taken as preferred examples of the same and that various changes may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim.

1. A carton comprising a plurality of walls, a lia-p cut out from one of said walls along three edges and integrally hinged from said one of said Wall along the remaining edge, a channel-shaped spout formed of resilient and yieldable material and including a central section secured to the inner face of said flap, said channel having side wings extending at right angles to the section and inwardly into the container, a slot cut in the body of said flap parallel to its hinged edge, and an integral tab cut out of the :central section of said channel and extending outwardly through said slot and being of a sucient size externally of said flap so as to be easily grasped between the ngers of a user for moving the flap and spout relative to the container, the material of said central section extending beyond the hinge to form a hinge reinforcement and extending in the opposite direction beyond the end of said flap to form a locking member which en- 1 gages the inner surface of the container wall in the closed position of said ap so as to hold the flap closed but which may be resiliently bent to release said spout in response to #a pull on the tab.

2. A carton comprising a plurality of space-enclosing walls forming a container, a multi-edged ap formed from a part of one of said lwalls and integrally hinged Ifrom said one of said walls along an edge of the ap, said ap being outwardly swingable from said container, said Hap having an inner face and an outer face relative to the container, a channel-shaped spout formed of yieldable material and including a central section secured to the inner face of said flap, said channel-shaped spout having integral side wings extending at angles from the central section into said container, said ap having a slot therethrough spaced from the edges of said flap, and a tab formed from a part of the central section and extending integrally and outwardly from said central section through said slot and constituting beyond the outer face of said Hap a handle of a size to be easily grasped between the ingers of a user for moving the spout relative to said container.

3. A carton comprising a plurality of space-enclosing walls forming a container, a multi-edge flap formed from a part of one of said walls and integrally hinged from said one of said walls along an edge of the ap, said flap having an inner face and an outer face relative to the container, a channel-shaped spout formed of yieldable material and including a central section secured to the inner face of said ap, said chanel-shaped spout having integral side wings extending at angles from the central section into said container, said ap having a slot spaced from the edges of said flap, and a tab formed from part of the central section and extending integrally and outwardly from said central section through said slot and constituting beyond the outer face of said ilap a handle of suicient size to be easily grasped between the fingers of a user for moving the spout relative to said container, the material of said central section extending beyond the hinge and against the interior of said one of said walls to form a hinge reinforcement.

4. A carton comprising a plurality of space-enclosing walls, one of said walls having a flap formed from a part of one of said walls and integrally hinged from said one of said walls along an edge of the flap, said flap having an inner face and an outer face relative to the container, said flap being movable between open and closed positions, a channel-shaped spout formed of yieldable material and including a central section secured to the inner face of said ap, said channel-shaped spout having integral side wings extending angularly to the central section into said container, said flap having a slot therethrough and spaced from its edges, and a tab formed from a part of the central section and extending integrally and outwardly from the central section through said slot and constituting beyond the outer face of said ap a handle of suicient size to be easily grasped between the lingers of a user for moving the spout relative to said container, the material of said central section extending longitudinally beyond the end of said Hap to form a locking member which engages the inner surface of the container wall in the closed position of said flap so as to hold the flap closed but which may be resiliently bent to release said spout in response to a pull on the tab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,089,774 3/ 1914 Kuechenmeister, et al.

1,754,476 4/1930 Magill 222-531 2,056,977 10/ 193 6 Nicholls 222-5 31 2,069,738 2/ 1937 Buchen.

2,104,593 1/1938 Nathe 215-51 2,146,226 2/ 1939 Punte 229-7 2,213,200 9/1940 Brainard 215-51 2,634,897 4/1953 Bord 229-17 2,713,956 7/ 1955 Everett 222-532 2,832,516 4/1958 Von Culin 229-7 X 2,979,249 4/1961 Gill 229-17 THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

2. A CARTON COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF SPACE-ENCLOSING WALLS FORMING A CONTAINER, A MULTI-EDGED FLAP FORMED FROM A PART OF ONE OF SAID WALLS AND INTEGRALLY HINGED FROM SAID ONE OF SAID WALLS ALONG AN EDGE OF THE FLAP BEING OUTWARDLY SWINGABLE FROM SAID CONTAINER, SAID FLAP HAVING AN INNER FACE AND AN OUTER FACE RELATIVE TO THE CONTAINER, A CHANNEL-SHAPED SPOUT FORMED OF YIELDABLE MATERIAL AND INCLUDING A CENTRAL SECTION SECURED TO THE INNER FACE OF SAID FLAP, SAID CHANNEL-SHAPED SPOUT HAVING INTEGRAL SIDE WINGS EXTENDING AT ANGLES FROM THE CENTRAL SECTION INTO SAID CONTAINER, SAID FLAP HAVING A SLOT THERE THROUGH SPACED FROM THE EDGES OF SAID FLAP, AND A TAB FORMED FROM A PART OF THE CENTRAL SECTION AND EXTENDING INTEGRALLY AND OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CENTRAL SECTION THROUGH SAID SLOT AND CONSTITUTING BEYOND THE OUTER FACES OF SAID FLAP A HANDLE OF A SIZE TO BE EASILY GRASPED BETWEEN THE FINGERS OF A USE FOR MOVING THE SPOUT RELATIVE TO SAID CONTAINER. 